UniAbuja mourns Ogbemudia

The management and Governing Council of the university of Abuja have joined thousands of Nigerians to mourn the death of a two-time governor of the old Mid-West Region and Bendel state (now Edo state), Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia.

Dr. Ogbemudia who died in Lagos on Thursday last week, aged 84, was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University.

A statement signed by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Michael Adikwu, on Monday in Abuja said: “It is with a heavy heart but with total submission to the will of God that the Governing Council, Senate, Management, staff and students of the University of Abuja mourn the passing away of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Brig-Gen (Dr). Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, who died in Lagos on Thursday, 9th March, 2017, aged 84.

“The entire University Community is in mourning with the family of the late Pro-Chancellor who had worked tirelessly despite his health challenges to reposition the university on the path of progress and steady development.

“The late Brig-Gen (rtd) (Dr). Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia was passionate about the University of Abuja. In particular, he was disposed to serious competitive intellectual engagement which was no doubt in tandem with his life-long belief in communal development within the context of a nation in which its integrated parts are in perpetual competition for relevance and survival.

“This belief informed the culture of competition that he sought to instill among the university’s academics. The culture may not have taken firm root during his tenure as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, but his efforts no doubt showed signs already of a great output in the future.

“We easily recall for instance his many personal interventions that had helped to restore normalcy at the university during some of its crisis periods, the resultant stability which it is enjoying today.

“We, at the University of Abuja, will continue to have fond memories of the Late Brig-Gen (rtd) (Dr). Samuel Ogbemudia, especially the role he played in all the major developments in the institution in the last four years. In particular, the University owes a lot to his foresight and leadership which promoted harmony and a conducive atmosphere for learning in the university for the first time in many years.

“The University of Abuja condoles with the family of the Late Brig-Gen (Dr). Ogbemudia and prays that Almighty God grants the elder statesman eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Amen.”